By Faridat Salifu
Climate experts have called for a shift in climate finance investments from funding large-scale tree planting to restoring the ecological conditions that allow degraded ecosystems to recover naturally.
The call was made on Saturday, July 26, as the world marked the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
In a blog published by the Commonwealth Secretariat, experts from its Climate Change Section said financing nature-based solutions should move beyond measuring success by the number of mangrove seedlings planted or hectares restored.
According to the experts, many climate finance projects prioritise visible interventions such as tree planting without addressing the ecological factors responsible for ecosystem degradation, limiting the long-term impact of restoration efforts.
Drawing lessons from a recent visit by the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) team to the Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary in Sri Lanka, the experts said restoring natural water flows disrupted by shrimp farming had enabled mangroves to regenerate naturally, in some cases more effectively than planted seedlings.
They noted that climate finance should support ecological assessments, long-term monitoring and adaptive management to ensure restoration projects respond to local environmental conditions rather than applying the same interventions across different locations.
The experts said project indicators commonly used by climate financiers, including the number of trees planted and hectares restored, may not accurately reflect ecosystem recovery if the underlying causes of degradation remain unresolved.
They stressed that climate finance should first identify the conditions required for ecosystems to restore themselves before investing in restoration activities.
The experts also underscored the role of local communities in ensuring the long-term success of nature-based solutions, noting that ecosystems such as mangrove wetlands provide livelihoods through ecotourism and other ecosystem services while strengthening climate resilience.
They added that experiences across Commonwealth countries demonstrate that financing nature-based solutions requires locally tailored approaches that integrate climate action, biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management.
The experts urged governments and climate finance institutions to translate growing commitments into effective action as preparations continue for COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, in November.
